India vs Bangladesh is scheduled to be one of the most awaited group-stage matches before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starts. Both teams are gearing up for a brilliant tournament performance in this crucial tournament

• Match: India vs Bangladesh
• Tournament: ICC Champions Trophy 2025
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE
• Date: February 20, 2025
• Time: 2:30 IST

India's Probable Playing XI
India boasts a capable side for this tournament. They have seasoned players along with youth talents.

Batting Line-up:
Rohit Sharma (Captain): One of the finest openers in the world, with top leadership qualities.
Shubman Gill: Promising young batsman with robust technique and regularity.
Virat Kohli: World-class batsman considered to be one of the world's best match-winners.
Shreyas Iyer: Solid middle-order batsman with faith in himself.
KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper): A utility player who can play both as an opener and in the middle order.
All-rounders:
Hardik Pandya: A big hitter and a vital fast-bowling all-rounder.
Ravindra Jadeja: A vital player who makes contributions through batting, bowling, and fielding.
Axar Patel: Another all-rounder who offers spin bowling and useful runs in the lower order.
Bowlers:
Mohammed Shami: A seasoned fast bowler who can pick up early wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav: A left-handed wrist-spinner recognized for picking the vital wickets.
Arshdeep Singh: A young fast bowler with the ability to perform well during pressure games.

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh

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BANGLADESH:

Bangladesh will come into the match with a well-balanced team featuring experienced players and promising young guns.

Batting Line-up:
Tanzid Hasan: A hard-hitting opener who can provide Bangladesh with a good beginning.
Soumya Sarkar: An all-rounder who can hit aggressive shots at the top.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain) : A good batsman and the captain of the team.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: A good all-rounder who can chip in with both bat and ball.
Towhid Hridoy: A young batsman who handles pressure well.
Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper): One of Bangladesh's most experienced players.
All-rounders & Bowlers:
Jaker Ali: A middle-order batsman who has the ability to speed up the innings.
Rishad Hossain: A leg-spinner who can vex batsmen with his variations.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib: A pace bowler who provides energy to the bowling team.
Mustafizur Rahman: A left-arm pacer who is known for his slow deliveries.
Taskin Ahmed: Bangladesh's pace attack spearhead who is capable of delivering high speed.

Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed.

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The Champions Trophy has been the mini-World Cup event of cricket for a long time, combining the best teams in high-stakes tournaments. Many legendary cricketers have had a great impact on the competition. Wisden recently made a champions trophy all-time XI team where the best players from the game were honored for their great performances.

Wisden’s All-Time Champions Trophy XI

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A Thought on Wisden XI :
The combination of explosive batting, all-round options, and a bowling side that is killing its opponents is struck in the selection of Wisden. Some may think that MS Dhoni should be included in the team as the wicketkeeper and another pacer should be selected such as Brett Lee, but the XI is really quite powerful. Would you make any changes to this lineup? Share your thoughts on this all-time great XI!

England are set for the T20I series against the hosts India as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the playing XI for the five-match T20I series opener, which will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. 

It will be the first international meeting between India and England after their Semi-final meeting in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where India won by 68 runs.

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Brendon McCullum is ready to begin his journey in white-ball coaching

For England, the five-match T20I series is the beginning of a new era as Brendon McCullum is starting his white-ball coaching role. Despite some criticism, coach McCullum's aggressive batting tactics in Test cricket are popular, and it is known as Bazball.

Top four confirms

The official playing XI announcement has confirmed that the wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt will open with Ben Duckett. Skipper Jos Buttler will bat at no. 3, and the new vice-captain Harry Brook will bat at no.4.

Gus Atkinson returns after more than a year

The team has three pacers: Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood. It will be the first international white-ball game for the 27-year-old Atkinson after December 2023. While the leg-spinner Adil Rashid will handle the spin-bowling role, he can get the support of Liam Livingstone and the left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell. Also, fast-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton is present for the important dual roles.

Eden Gardens in T20Is

Both pacers and spinners can play important roles at Eden Gardens, which is also popular for some big T20 totals. However, this T20 venue doesn’t produce regular 180+ totals. Also, dew can play an important factor in this match.

England previously played two T20Is at Eden Gardens. While they won by six wickets against the hosts India in 2011, they suffered a shocking defeat in the ICC World T20 2016 Final against West Indies, where Carlos Brathwaite smashed four successive sixes to Ben Stokes in the final over to snatch the trophy.

England playing XI for Kolkata T20I

Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (Captain), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

In the ever-evolving landscape of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Mumbai Indians (MI) stand at a crossroads. Despite their illustrious history, marked by five championship triumphs, recent seasons have seen MI grappling with unmet expectations. As they brace themselves for IPL 2024, the pressure mounts on MI to reclaim their former glory amidst stiff competition and heightened aspirations.

Mumbai Indians’ Legacy in IPL

Peaks and valleys have characterized MI’s journey in the IPL. With an enviable record of five titles, they have etched their name in the annals of cricketing history. However, their dominance has been challenged in recent years, leading to introspection and re-calibration.

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The backdrop of IPL 2024 is fraught with significance for MI, particularly in their rivalry with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While CSK has surged ahead, clinching two championships in recent years, MI is in the shadows, yearning for a resurgence. The upcoming season presents a crucial opportunity for MI to reclaim their mantle as the undisputed champions of the IPL.

Analysis of Potential Playing XI

The composition of their playing XI is central to MI’s aspirations, a delicate balance of talent and strategy. With the return of one of the country’s finest all-rounders Hardik Pandya and the elevation of Rohit Sharma to the role of team leader, MI aims to strike the perfect chord between experience and innovation.

Strengths of Mumbai Indians

MI’s strength lies in its roster of formidable players, including stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav. The blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents infuses MI with depth and dynamism, setting the stage for a compelling campaign.

Challenges Ahead

Despite their formidable lineup, MI faces challenges on multiple fronts. Effective workload management and injury prevention are critical factors in sustaining performance over the grueling IPL season. The team’s ability to navigate these challenges will be pivotal in their quest for redemption.

As IPL 2024 unfolds, MI emerges as a strong contender for a playoff berth. Their pursuit of a sixth title is fueled by a potent mix of ambition and resilience, making them a force to be reckoned with in the fiercely competitive arena of franchise cricket.

MI probable playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Piyush Chawla, Nuwan Thushara, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal.

Impact player options: Nehal Wadhera, Akash Madhwal.

MI players bought at IPL 2024 auction: Gerald Coetzee (Rs. 5 crore), Dilshan Madushanka (Rs. 4.60 crore), Shreyas Gopal (Rs. 20 lakh), Nuwan Thushara (Rs. 4.80 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 20 lakh), Mohammad Nabi (Rs. 1.5 crore), Shivalik Sharma (Rs. 20 lakh).

MI IPL 2024 SQUAD COMPOSITION

Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Vishnu Vinod.

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Tim David (AUS), Suryakumar Yadav, N. Tilak Varma, Dewald Brevis (SA).

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Romario Shepherd (WI), Nehal Wadhera, Shams Mulani, Gerald Coetzee (SA), Mohammad Nabi (AFG), Shivalik Sharma, Naman Dhir.

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff (AUS), Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Arjun Tendulkar, Piyush Chawla, Dilshan Madushanka (SL), Nuwan Thushara (SL), Anshul Kamboj, Shreyas Gopal.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 has reached a crucial juncture, and today’s eliminator match promises fireworks as Mumbai Indians Women take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. The stakes are high, and both teams are hungry for victory to make the place in the final of WPL 2024. RCB won the toss and decided to bat first.

Led by the formidable Harmanpreet Kaur, the Mumbai Indians boast a talented squad. Players like Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Natalie Sciver-Brunt have been in top form. Their explosive batting lineup, coupled with a disciplined bowling attack, positions them as strong contenders for the title. Having reached the final in the previous season, they are eager to replicate their success and secure a spot in the championship match once again.

Meanwhile, under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, RCB aims to upset the odds. With stars like Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, and Indrani Roy, they have the firepower to challenge any opponent. With an aggressive playing style and versatile players capable of making impactful contributions, they pose a significant threat to the defending champions.

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The winner of this Eliminator match will advance to the finals, and the loser’s campaign will come to an end. Brace yourselves for an intense battle under the Delhi lights! Stay tuned with us for live updates.

Women’s Premier League: Who said what at the toss?

Smriti Mandhana – Today, we would prefer to bat first. As an eliminator, runs on board are definitely important. Hopefully, it will start to quiet down in the second inning. Today, we have not changed. There were many highs and lows during the competition. We are going to gain a lot of benefits from the last game.

Harmanpreet Kaur: In addition to being quite perplexed, we also wanted to bat first. Yastika is returning for Bala today. The last time we batted first, we had a terrific powerplay. After that, we didn’t go any farther. Much has been learned by us. In certain areas, even the bowling was good. It’s a fresh day, so maybe we accomplish what we had planned. It’s critical to remain present in the moment. We wish to give it everything we have since this game is crucial.

Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Richa Ghosh(w), Georgia Wareham, Disha Kasat, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur Singh

Mumbai Indians Women (Playing XI): Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia(w), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Humaira Kazi, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque